New Zealand 
United Kingdom 
Singapore 
Malaysia 
Canada (Français) 
Australia
Early Childhood Teacher salary guide Australia 2026
The typical Early Childhood Teacher salary in Australia is $82,000, with pay ranging from $73,000 at entry level to $90,000 for experienced practitioners.
Overview
What does an Early Childhood Teacher earn?
The median salary of Early Childhood Teachers in Australia is $82,000. Starting positions typically sit around $73,000, while senior professionals holding leadership responsibilities can earn up to $90,000. Most roles across the early learning sector fall within the typical range of $73,000–$90,000.
Optional — pick a state first
Median for Early Childhood Teacher, nationally across Australia.
10th $73,000
25th $82,000
50th (median) $90,000
75th $102,000
90th
Figures above update by state/city. For a full breakdown by seniority, see the table below.
Location
Early Childhood Teacher salary by city
Location plays a notable role in early childhood remuneration across Australia. Major capital cities such as Sydney and Melbourne often present different pay rates compared to regional centres.
What drives salary
Factors that affect Early Childhood Teacher pay
Several key factors influence where your pay sits within the sector. Understanding these elements helps you target higher-paying opportunities and plan your professional growth.
Holding an approved Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and maintaining current teacher registration directly positions you for higher award tiers and specialist positions.
Pay rates can differ between Long Day Care services, sessional kindergartens and independent school preschools depending on funding models and enterprise agreements.
Stepping into an Educational Leader role or driving curriculum compliance under the National Quality Framework usually attracts an allowance or a higher base salary.
Your depth of classroom experience and reflective practice helps you progress up the multi-tier pay scales set by modern awards and agreements.
Services in regional and remote communities frequently offer higher compensation packages to attract degree-qualified teachers away from major metropolitan centres.
Comparison
How Early Childhood Teachers compare to related roles
An Early Childhood Teacher earns substantially more than an Early Childhood Educator or Family Support Worker, reflecting the four-year university qualification and formal accreditation required. Pay typically aligns closely with or exceeds that of Vocational Education Trainers and Assessors, driven by award progression and degree-level responsibility.
| Role | Range | Relative | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | $89,000–$119,000 | $106,000 | |
| Counsellor | $83,000–$101,000 | $91,000 | |
| Early Childhood Teacher You are here | $73,000–$90,000 | $82,000 | |
| Trainer and/or Assessor | $73,000–$98,000 | $82,000 | |
| Family Support Worker | $73,000–$90,000 | $82,000 |
Employment Hero Job Data
Salary figures are derived from Employment Hero proprietary data. All figures represent base salary only and exclude bonuses, superannuation and other benefits. Last updated October 2026.
Hiring an Early Childhood Teacher?
Get back to growing your business, not sifting through CVs. No switching tools. Just faster, smarter, AI-powered hiring, fully integrated with your HR system.
